Yiguan was in the midst of a scorching summer, having endured many days of intense heat, all waiting for this rain.
But in her previous life, she had taken the carriage home early, forgetting the events that followed, and had no recollection that it would rain today.
However, because she had slept in unusually late today, spent a lot of time choosing clothes and eating, and then Wen Puchang deliberately arrived late, the situation today was completely different from her previous life.
Now, with the mudslide blocking the mountain road, no one could leave.
There was more than one way down the mountain, but the flat, wide road suitable for carriages was blocked, meaning at least Wen Lisheng and the others couldn’t return home.
Fortunately, the Mei family’s servants usually stayed at the winery, so there were plenty of rooms. In this emergency, there was no choice but to have the servants give up their beds.
By late afternoon, the rain finally lightened to a drizzle. There were too many guests attending the banquet, and even if the Old Tree Hall emptied all the servants’ quarters, it might not accommodate everyone. Many people, seeing the situation, took their leave and hurried down the mountain via alternative paths under the cover of night.
Naturally, Wen Lisheng stayed behind with Wen Puchang. Even if she had a hundred reasons not to want to, she had no desire to trek home in the dark.
During dinner, with so many people, seating arrangements were less formal. Shen Jiaqing deliberately squeezed in next to her and whispered in her ear, “I saw that Xie Xiaonan again earlier. He doesn’t look like someone who’s sick.”
Wen Lisheng glared at him and said in a hushed voice, “You’re not a doctor. How can you tell at a glance whether someone is sick or not? There are people everywhere here. Stop discussing his affairs.”
Shen Jiaqing looked around furtively and then said, “Did you know there are rumors outside that the Mei family has a map to the Frostbloom Sword?”
She was taken aback for a moment, then quickly searched her memory for information about this sword.
The Frostbloom Sword was the weapon used by the number one swordmaster in the martial world twenty years ago. It was said to be sharp enough to cut through iron and could kill a hundred people without its blade dulling. After the swordmaster vanished, people in the martial world had been searching for this legendary Frostbloom Sword. Earlier this year, someone delivered the sword to Wind Spirit Manor, claiming it would be the prize for the winner of this Martial Appreciation Assembly.
Wind Spirit Manor had always prioritized integrity, and at the beginning of the year, they announced this news to the martial world. Since then, various sects from all over had come, all for the sake of this legendary Frostbloom Sword.
“Isn’t that sword kept in the treasure vault of Wind Spirit Manor?”
“Yes,” Shen Jiaqing said. “That’s why they say the Mei family has a map to my family’s vault. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but tonight is the perfect opportunity to investigate.”
Wen Lisheng was shocked. “Are you crazy? You’re not allowed to go.”
“Why not?” Shen Jiaqing had thought she would join him, as they had always acted together in the past.
“Even though this banquet is being held at the Mei family’s estate, it’s still being hosted in my father’s name. If something goes wrong, it’ll cause trouble for my father. Let’s investigate another day.” Wen Lisheng nudged him with her elbow. “Eat properly and stop talking nonsense.”
Shen Jiaqing was jolted so hard by the elbow that he nearly vomited what he had just eaten, and he quickly fell silent.
After dinner, Wen Lisheng was about to check if the rain had stopped when a maid stopped her. “Miss Wen, my lady requests your presence.”Wen Lisheng was filled with confusion as she followed the maid out of the main hall, passing through a long corridor before arriving at a room where Wen Puchang, Mei Xing’an, and others were seated.
Beside Mei Xing’an sat his wife, a woman in her thirties who still retained her charm. Upon seeing Wen Lisheng, she smiled and waved, repeatedly praising her for growing more beautiful with age.
Wen Lisheng smiled modestly. “May I ask why you summoned me, Madam?”
Wen Puchang spoke up from the side. “When I went to the backyard to look for you earlier today, you said you were chased by a large black dog. Was that true?”
Wen Lisheng nodded, gesturing with her hands. “It was indeed larger than the dogs I usually see, completely black with yellow eyes.”
Madam Mei said, “That is indeed the dog I keep. It is usually confined to the courtyard to guard the gate and does not chase or bite people under normal circumstances. It only behaves that way when it encounters someone with ill intentions.”
Wen Lisheng was taken aback for a moment before immediately understanding Madam Mei’s implication. She recalled the person in dark blue robes she had seen at the entrance of that courtyard—the large black dog had originally been chasing him.
She truthfully recounted the situation, and only then did Madam Mei show a look of anger. “How bold of that person to dare steal from me!”
It turned out that something had been stolen from Madam Mei’s courtyard, and there were signs of the room being ransacked. Additionally, the large black dog had been found outside the courtyard after running out, confirming that a thief had indeed targeted her residence.
Wen Lisheng had coincidentally witnessed the thief and was mistaken as an accomplice by the large black dog, which chased her all the way. However, she had not seen the thief’s face and could not describe his height or age. She only knew he wore blue clothing with cloud patterns embroidered on the hem.
After Madam Mei finished questioning her, Wen Lisheng left the room. Recalling how she had been chased and forced to hide in a vat for so long during the day, all thanks to that thief, she gritted her teeth in frustration.
As night fell, Wen Lisheng was assigned to a guest room. The room also had an adjoining side chamber, meaning she would be sharing it with another person. The maid had already informed her of this on the way, and she did not mind.
After all, it was only for one night, and she would be leaving tomorrow. Besides, with so many people and limited rooms, she could somewhat sympathize with the Mei family’s situation.
However, when the door opened and she saw Zhuang Ying standing inside, she immediately lost all sympathy.
What kind of dreadful arrangement was this?
Zhuang Ying was directing a maid to change the bedding when she heard the door open. Turning around and seeing Wen Lisheng, she immediately furrowed her brows, her expression unwelcoming.
Wen Lisheng stood at the threshold, arms crossed and chin raised, exuding the air of a young lady of high status. “What are you busy with?”
Zhuang Ying’s expression soured. After a tense moment of eye contact with Wen Lisheng, she reluctantly ordered the maid to remove the bedding she had just laid out on the bed. While she would have rightfully taken the main bedroom if sharing with any other woman, Wen Lisheng was an exception.
After all, although Wen Lisheng was usually idle and caused trouble with her followers, her father was the prefect—the superior of Zhuang Ying’s father.
Unable to suppress her resentment, Zhuang Ying could not help but sneer, “Every time I see Miss Wen, I am reminded of the importance of being born into a good family. It truly is enviable.”
Wen Lisheng glanced at her and slowly walked inside. “I truly envy you as well. After all, you had a connection with the young master in your childhood. If you can stir his memories, you might even manage to climb the high branch of the Jing’an Marquis.”Zhuang Ying’s face instantly turned pale then red, and after holding it in for a long time, she finally said, “Of course, you can’t envy that.”
Wen Lisheng nearly laughed out loud, her beautiful eyes curving as she replied, “Yes, yes, this blessing is for you alone to enjoy.”
She couldn’t bear such a “blessing.”
Wen Lisheng’s bed was tidied up, and she sat on a wooden chair in the guest room, waiting for the servants to heat water for her bath.
Unexpectedly, the bathing room was right next to the side room. While Wen Lisheng wasn’t paying attention, Zhuang Ying slipped in and seized the freshly heated water. Wen Lisheng couldn’t very well have someone drag a naked Zhuang Ying out, so she had no choice but to endure her impatience and wait.
But Zhuang Ying was deliberately trying to annoy her. She bathed for a long time, changing the water several times, and simply refused to come out. Yu Gui went to urge her several times, but it was useless. Furious, Wen Lisheng stood up and went out to find Madam Mei to request a room change.
The rain outside had stopped, and the sky was ink-black without a single star or moon in sight. Lanterns were lit everywhere.
As she walked a bit farther, the lanterns around her became less dense, and the surroundings grew darker. Occasionally, a couple of servants passed by. Wen Lisheng’s anger had mostly subsided by then, and she thought that since the breeze was cool, she might as well take a leisurely stroll before heading back.
After walking for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, she suddenly saw someone standing under a tree ahead. The person was looking up at the tree, and a moment later, something was thrown down and caught by the person below.
Wen Lisheng had sharp eyes and noticed that the hem of the person’s robe was embroidered with cloud patterns. She immediately thought of the thief who had provoked the big black dog during the day and strode forward.
The person heard her footsteps but didn’t seem flustered. By the time he turned to look, Wen Lisheng was already in front of him, grabbing his arm and leaning in to check the color of his clothes.
Due to the dim light and the lantern’s glow, she had to get close to see clearly.
Just as she confirmed it, the person shook off her arm and pushed her away. “Get lost!”
Wen Lisheng stumbled back two steps, her anger flaring as she glared at him and pointed. “It’s you after all, that little pickpocket!”
The young man in front of her was tall, with ordinary features, though his fair skin stood out under the lantern light. His droopy eyes held an unmistakable arrogance, and his voice was low. “You’ve got the wrong person.”
“I saw you clearly during the day—how could I be wrong?” Wen Lisheng thought of everything she had endured because of this pickpocket earlier, and coupled with the irritation Zhuang Ying had caused her, her anger flared up. She fumed, “You’re in big trouble, little pickpocket.”
The young man snorted disdainfully through his nose.
“Yu Gui, beat him up for me!” Wen Lisheng ordered angrily, sending out her enforcer.
Yu Gui had practiced martial arts since childhood and continued to train in fist and foot techniques after Wen Lisheng took her in. She was Wen Lisheng’s personal maid and her top enforcer, always by her side.
Yu Gui clenched her fists, raised her arms, and swiftly stepped forward, ready to strike the young man without a word. But before she could throw a punch, a sharp pain shot through the back of her knee, and she immediately fell to her knees in front of the young man.
Wen Lisheng didn’t see what had struck Yu Gui’s knee and assumed she had chickened out. Frustrated, she scolded, “Get up! Don’t embarrass the Wen family!”
Yu Gui wanted to say that the Wen family’s dignity had long been tarnished by her young mistress.
But she didn’t dare.
Just then, someone jumped down from the tree, landing beside the young man. He leaned in and whispered, “Young master…”
The young man immediately shot him a warning glance, and he quickly corrected himself, “Boss, I’ll knock them out. You go ahead.”Yu Gui, who had initially intended to stand up and continue the fight, immediately knelt back down upon seeing this. She turned to Wen Lisheng and said, “Miss, perhaps we should let it go. It seems we can’t win.”
Wen Lisheng thought it over and agreed. It was possible that the pickpocket before them knew martial arts and had accomplices. If even Yu Gui couldn’t defeat them, she certainly stood no chance. So she quickly changed tactics, intending to shout for the servants at the top of her lungs. “He—”
As soon as the sound escaped her lips, her arm was yanked violently backward. Her back collided with a firm chest, and then a hand clamped tightly over her mouth, stifling her voice completely.
She struggled fiercely, but the young man’s strength was astonishing. He gripped both her wrists in one hand, holding her firmly in place.
Seeing two servants leisurely passing by to the south, he maneuvered Wen Lisheng into a blind spot behind a tree, peeking cautiously from the side. Yu Gui was also pulled behind the tree by another person.
Wen Lisheng caught a faint, pleasant scent on the pickpocket. Unfamiliar with fragrances, she couldn’t tell whether the aroma clinging to his clothes was high-quality or ordinary, but it smelled wonderful to her.
She struggled hard to free her wrists, flailing her arms in an attempt to scratch the pickpocket’s face.
The young man tilted his head to dodge, and once the servants had passed, he released her and shoved her away forcefully.
Instinctively, Wen Lisheng grabbed the front of the young man’s robe, pulling something out from his embrace before landing hard on her backside. Fortunately, she was wearing a dark-colored skirt, so the dirt stains weren’t noticeable.
The young man glared at her coldly. Only after straightening his robe did he notice the object in her hand. His brows furrowed, and his expression turned grim.
Wen Lisheng wasn’t in much pain from the fall. She instinctively looked down at the object in her hand—a very small, round piece of purple jade. Strung above it was a coin the size of a fingernail, and below it dangled a golden silk-like tassel woven into a floral knot.
The purple jade was carved with a totem resembling a flower, something she had never seen before. When she turned it over, the dim lamplight revealed an exquisitely carved character: “Xie.”
Her face paled in shock. She looked up, her expression filled with disbelief. “You dare steal Xie Xiaonan’s belongings?!”